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Avatar universal

Should I put my cat through chemo?

My cat is 12 years old and has recently been diagnosed with a mammary adenocarcinoma. She had the tumor excised, then had radical surgery to remove mammary gland and tissue from her. The vet said that chemotherapy was the next step, but to first find out if if would increase estimated survival time, otherwise there would be no point in proceeding with the chemotherapy. She gave me some statistics from a study that put surgery + adjunctive doxorubicin treatment at 441 days mean survival time. This would indicate that there would be no gain from the chemotherapy, but does not specify if this is with just tumor excision or so called 'radical surgery'. I was wondering if anyone could offer any information on this - my cat is in good health otherwise, the tumor was less than 2cm in diameter (the vet reckoned i caught it early). I would go ahead if I thought there was benefit and extended life expectancy, but after two major operations I don't want to put my cat through any unnecessary suffering for little or no benefit.
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Avatar universal
My lil girl Mitzy has just been diagnosed with the same thing and I am wrestling with the best thing to do for her..... Not me. After reading ur response it has confirmed my fear that I need to let her go. This is the hardest thing I wl ever do. As I write this she is cuddled on my lap and loving me as much as I love her. She's 2 years and 9 months old and I'm absolutely devastated :( xx
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Avatar universal
this made me cry ..my baby is 16 mth old and has a tumour which had fluid on it in his lounges which made him not breath they drained some of the fluide to help him breath but they say i need to do chemo for six wks and then my cat will have a good quolity of life for a year but doing the chemo will not take it away he will die ,,this happend tuesday and i have had no sleep thinking what to do.do i put him to sleep or go ahead with the chemo i want whats best for lily as i love him so much and dont want him in pain,they said if i go down the lines of chemo the tumour will shrink and give him a better quolity of life .im so dont know what to do :(
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Avatar universal
Hi Lauren,
my cat Cinders was in a similar position having had surgery and chemo.I wrestled for a long time whether to give her chemo and was told that it was unlikely to cause any kidney damage etc and that it would be helpful in prolonging life. However I found  In general this not to be true as the chemo is a waste of money it has to be said as my cat has just passed away after just 12 weeks from commencement
Cats do not respond to chemo very well despite all the scientific arguments and after experiencing it first hand my thoughts are that it is unkind as it damages their other organs very quickly .
If you are in the same boat as I was looking here for answers plain and simple it will not prolong your cats life and possibly even shorten your time together . My advice is based on actual experience and cost me almost £1,600 so please if you are reading this and your cat has had an op and been diagnosed with mammary cancer unless it is caught right at the very start I.e a very small tumor just give your cat lots of love and affection that's the best treatment you can give. In most cases it will recur and spread to the Lymph nodes rapidly and you will not be able to tell unless you perform a fine aspirate needle exam by which time it is too late anyway.
I can only offer my opinion and I hope that it will help anyone who is faced with the same dilemmas as I was.
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Avatar universal
Hi Lauren,
my cat Cinders was in a similar position having had surgery and chemo.I wrestled for a long time whether to give her chemo and was told that it was unlikely to cause any kidney damage etc and that it would be helpful in prolonging life. However I found  In general this not to be true as the chemo is a waste of money it has to be said as my cat has just passed away after just 12 weeks from commencement
Cats do not respond to chemo very well despite all the scientific arguments and after experiencing it first hand my thoughts are that it is unkind as it damages their other organs very quickly .
If you are in the same boat as I was looking here for answers plain and simple it will not prolong your cats life and possibly even shorten your time together . My advice is based on actual experience and cost me almost £1,600 so please if you are reading this and your cat has had an op and been diagnosed with mammary cancer unless it is caught right at the very start I.e a very small tumor just give your cat lots of love and affection that's the best treatment you can give. In most cases it will recur and spread to the Lymph nodes rapidly and you will not be able to tell unless you perform a fine aspirate needle exam by which time it is too late anyway.
I can only offer my opinion and I hope that it will help anyone who is faced with the same dilemmas as I was.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Lauren,
my cat Cinders was in a similar position having had surgery and chemo.I wrestled for a long time whether to give her chemo and was told that it was unlikely to cause any kidney damage etc and that it would be helpful in prolonging life. However I found  In general this not to be true as the chemo is a waste of money it has to be said as my cat has just passed away after just 12 weeks from commencement
Cats do not respond to chemo very well despite all the scientific arguments and after experiencing it first hand my thoughts are that it is unkind as it damages their other organs very quickly .
If you are in the same boat as I was looking here for answers plain and simple it will not prolong your cats life and possibly even shorten your time together . My advice is based on actual experience and cost me almost £1,600 so please if you are reading this and your cat has had an op and been diagnosed with mammary cancer unless it is caught right at the very start I.e a very small tumor just give your cat lots of love and affection that's the best treatment you can give. In most cases it will recur and spread to the Lymph nodes rapidly and you will not be able to tell unless you perform a fine aspirate needle exam by which time it is too late anyway.
I can only offer my opinion and I hope that it will help anyone who is faced with the same dilemmas as I was.
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
Hi and welcome, I'm sorry for your dear baby....that's such a terrible thing to face, you went with your heart and wanted to give her every chance you could...I'm glad to hear she is tolerating it well and I certainly hope and pray it will buy her many more months of quality time with you.....sending along a prayer...PLZ keep us posted, we appreciate all the updates that will be of help to someone else's baby one day..also we truly care and want to support you both on this journey. All the best
Helpful - 0
13565943 tn?1430515902
Hello,
My 10 year old cat, Sally has recently been diagnosed with nasal lymphoma.  She's on week 3 of chemo and is on daily prednisolone.  She's doing really great, and I only hope she gets even better.  This was a hard decision to make, but it was either that, or put her down, and I knew when looking at her that it wasn't time yet.  My doctors/staff at ASEC in Los Angeles are fantastic.  Best wishes to everyone in this thread...and for those that have lost their fur baby...my heart goes out to you all.
Helpful - 0
11362300 tn?1418230294
Hello Onelove3123 and thank you for sharing your story, I completely understand what you have been through, letting them go is the last thing we all cat/animals lover want to do, but it is sometime the best and only choice to stop our pets from suffering.
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Avatar universal
I am writing this in case someone in the future comes across this post looking for advice or to see what other's decisions have been, and the outcomes.  I am currently in this battle myself with my 5 year old cat, Jakoby.  The last week has been an emotional roller coaster that I would not wish on anyone with a four-legged child.  But if love was enough to save Jakoby, then I wouldn't have to write this.  Unfortunately, however, that is not how it works.  Jakoby has adenocarcinoma that has metastasized.  The tumor is in his secem (sp?) which is right between the small and large intestine in cats.  They can proceed with surgery, but it will probably not do much as it has already started spreading.  Chemo is also there as an option, however this form of cancer does not respond much to chemo.  Yes, I could put him through this options and may give him an additional few months of life, however it will not change the outcome.  And those few months will not be pleasant for him.  I would do absolutely anything to save him, but unfortunately in his case the decision was almost made for me.  They tell me that, at best, he may have 1-2 weeks left. I am enthused for all of you who have given the treatments to your pets and they have responded well, for whatever amount of time.  But I wanted to give real honesty with this for anyone who may ever have to face what I currently am.  At the beginning of this, I promised Jakoby that I would do absolutely anything in order to make him better.  But I also promised that I would never cause him to suffer for longer than he needed to.  He is not able to tell me what he wants, but as his "mom" I feel that I should know.  And to me, I could be selfish and go through with surgery and chemo, but it would not be the quality of life I know he would want.  The greatest gifts I can ever give him is the gift of the best life possible and the gift of peace.  I will love him for whatever amount of time I have left with him, most likely a matter of days, and then send him to a much better place where he will no longer know pain.  My advice is, I know we all want to have our four legged children for as long as absolutely possible.  But when they are sick, it is not our interests or wishes that need to be factored in.  It is what is best for them, no matter how much it breaks our heart.  Love them and provide them with the best life you possibly can for as long as you are lucky enough to have them.  And then have the strength to give them the peace that they are undoubtedly looking for.  They have loved you with all of their ability.  Now love them enough to let them go.  
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11852542 tn?1421600228
Excellent Lauren!
I'm still positive you & your vet are doing the correct & best.
Please keep me posted.
Helpful - 0
11852542 tn?1421600228
I believe Lauren you have made the correct choice, your vets advice was very similar & as I said, my cat enjoyed a mostly good normal quality of life in & out of the house for 10 months longer.
Good luck & bless your dear kitty.
Helpful - 0
11852542 tn?1421600228
I appreciate your concern & opinion.
When I discovered my 2 year 9 month cat had developed a  lymphoma cancer tumour which had strangulated his left side kidney, my vet's opinion was to go ahead & extract the kidney, which was a straight forward operation, he recovered quickly & the vet's further advice was to go for the chemo IV treatment there, every three weeks, with weekly tablets at home in between & also regular steroid tablets & appetite ones. Although this worried me & the amount of chemicals, my vet (who has 25 years practice experience) said it would be worth it to proceed, as he was young, strong & resilient.
My cat lived for a further 10 months, he enjoyed most of that time, although he had his bad days, he always bounced back & lived a normal life, playing outside with his twin brother, climbing, running, playing etc., although his appetite become poor, his weight remained stable, until three weeks before he became weak, dehydrated & lost nearly half a kilo in weight, it was a drastic change & with my vets & my self's agreed opinion, he was put to a peaceful sleep, before he suffered critically.
Those 10 months was extremely special in my lifetime, the many moments & extreme closeness, love & understanding we shared will stay with me everyday forever.He loved life & was so very beautiful & sweet.
Was I wrong ?
Helpful - 0
11852542 tn?1421600228
I appreciate your concern & opinion.
When I discovered my 2 year 9 month cat had developed a  lymphoma cancer tumour which had strangulated his left side kidney, my vet's opinion was to go ahead & extract the kidney, which was a straight forward operation, he recovered quickly & the vet's further advice was to go for the chemo IV treatment there, every three weeks, with weekly tablets at home in between & also regular steroid tablets & appetite ones. Although this worried me & the amount of chemicals, my vet (who has 25 years practice experience) said it would be worth it to proceed, as he was young, strong & resilient.
My cat lived for a further 10 months, he enjoyed most of that time, although he had his bad days, he always bounced back & lived a normal life, playing outside with his twin brother, climbing, running, playing etc., although his appetite become poor, his weight remained stable, until three weeks before he became weak, dehydrated & lost nearly half a kilo in weight, it was a drastic change & with my vets & my self's agreed opinion, he was put to a peaceful sleep, before he suffered critically.
Those 10 months was extremely special in my lifetime, the many moments & extreme closeness, love & understanding we shared will stay with me everyday forever.He loved life & was so very beautiful & sweet.
Was I wrong ?
Helpful - 0
11389935 tn?1417796609
I was going to post a long story then I realized this was old. Anyways, to cut the story short for anyone else wondering - Chemo should always be a last resort. My friend's cat was 7 and went through it and it killed her.
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11362202 tn?1417801577
What ever happened with your cat? I never liked chemo options myself. :/
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Avatar universal
  Hi there

Can I ask how long did your cat survive after ?  
Helpful - 0
587315 tn?1333552783
Hi, you definitely NEED a specific diagnosis of cancer before you go the chemo route.  What if this thickening is not cancer?  And, it's such a small area!

Please give some more details on your cat's condition.  What made you take him to the vet in the first place?  What is the vet's opinion of the thickened area?

And, please start this as a new thread.  You will get many more responses that way.  This is an old thread and many people skip over the old ones.
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Avatar universal
After two vomiting spells and an some constipation My almost 15 beautiful boy had a complete blood panel and x rays and all looked great.  Then I had an ultrasound last week in my vet's office by a visiting radiologist I never met.  My vet met with me afterward and said Wookie had a thickening of the intestines but it was very small so no aspiration was done because she didn't think she could get near enuf to get a good sample.  Then I was basically given a choice of let it be or surgery to remove it and resection the intestine. If I chose let it be, she never even mentioned prednisone to ease the pain.   All the posts I've read seem to have had definite diagnosis of what they were dealing with before choosing what route to go.  Did I miss something here?  I feel like I don't have the whole story and should start over with a new vet but hate to put him thru the driving and tests again.  He tolerates it but is much happier at home.  
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874521 tn?1424116797
I am very sorry for the loss of yr dear little kitty, it's so sad to read of all these losses. You did what you felt was in his best interests and that's all we pet parents can do, we love them wth all our hearts an it's so sad to watch them struggling. RIP dear boy
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Avatar universal
Hi,
My cat was diagnosed with Lymphoma in late March. He is 15 years old. The vet gave him a steroid shot and an x ray. She said probably best to have him put to sleep. Also that he may not be able to survive the treatments if I decided to have chemo done.
I took him home terribly upset and crying. Decided to let him live out his remaining days with me at home. Vet never called to follow up on him although she said she would.
Yesterday April 10,2014 he passed away at 8:05 AM.
He drank water and ate very little the last remaining days up to not eating or drinking at all. It was terribly horrible to see what this disease had turned him into.
After reading all the comments on here, I'm glad that I DID NOT put him thru Chemo or antibiotics and make him suffer more than the poor thing did.
I gave him the best care I possibly could.
I cried for him  more than when my father died.
Thank you and my best to all.
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
I am so sorry.....this is heartbreaking, you tried to do your best for your precious baby and it didn't end up being the case, I too am so relieved to know she was at home with those that loved her at the end.
thank you so much for sharing this with everyone. RIP little one♥
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Avatar universal
we have just lost our most precious baby who was 14years old. she had been diagnosed with lymphoma the most aggressive strain. she had a mass removed and biopsy taken and found to have signs in her organs. Chemo was recommended and we went on that advise. We were WRONG to do so. She suffered badly and died within 48 hours of the treatment.
She didnt understand what was happening, lost control of her bladder and bowels and it was a totally undignified end for such a sweet spirit.
She smelt of chemicals and her fur turned bright green from the discharge.
if we had known that this could occur we would never had put her through it.
She died at home in our arms at 4.30 in the morning so at least she didnt die in a vet surgery.
Beware of the risk of killing your precious friend. If i had my time again i would have just made her as comfortable as possible and treasured the time i had left with her.

i post this on the hope that i can save someone else the pain we are now going through that we put her through that.
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874521 tn?1424116797
hi Jeanette, I am so sorry Sugars tumor recurred so quickly, that is just heartbreaking to need to put her through another surgery so soon...yes devastating I can believe, and I agree what we say 'we'll never do' than 'what we do, do'  when we are faced with the decision are sometimes two different things...its so hard to give up unless we feel in our hearts we've done everything we could.
I'm just so glad she is tolerating the chemo so well....:)

for cancer its very important you feed her a NO grain, HIGH protien diet..no by-products..get a good source of high protien.

I will list a few supps that I read are recommended for cancer treatment, I urge you to always check with your oncologist as well for their thoughts..I also urge you if you are going to try some or all of these supps you always start slowly as to not cause a GI upset and please buy the recommended brands b/c others may have ingredients that aren't good for use in Cats...such as soy for example.

Iherb is a good company to order from....good products and great service.

http://www.iherb.com/product-reviews/Enzymatic-Therapy-Cell-Forte-Max3-120-Veggie-Caps/2108/?p=1

1/2 capsule in broth 2x per day

http://www.iherb.com/LivOn-Laboratories-Lypo-Spheric-Vitamin-C-30-Packets-0-2-fl-oz-5-7-ml-Each/25231

Lipo C from Liv on Labs...absorbed at a much higher rate than any other forms of C, liposmal means it is absorbed into the cells as opposed to passing mostly unabsorbed thru the GI tract or kidneys. its EQUAL to IV viamin C...and widely used for human cancers as well.
this form comes in packets mixed with alcohol, so for the safety of you kitty open the packet and let AIR for half and hour. use 1 packet per 24 hrs( KEEP REMAINDER IN THE FRIDGE AND dispose of after 24 hrs if any left unused)...space the full packet throughtout the day....giving small amounts mixed with broth by dropper or syringe(orally)

and lastly TURMERIC...an excellent immune booster and anti inflammatory. use up to 500 mg (1/2 capsule) mixed with food or give via dropper after a meal.

http://www.iherb.com/Doctor-s-Best-Best-Curcumin-C3-Complex-with-BioPerine-1000-mg-120-Tablets/12137

like I mentioned before, speak with your oncologist abt these supplements...I know they are safe but I'm just not sure if they should be used while Sugar is on Chemo or afterwards? these are mostly used by holistic people in lieu of Chemo....so can't find info if they can be used ALONG WITH Chemo or not...
When starting ANY medication or supplement always begin with one at at time...just INCASE there is any reaction such as tummy upset you will knw whats causing it and what to cut back on or d/c

my prayers, keep us posted♥




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Avatar universal
Hello, it has been some time and I apologize for my absence. Here is an update on Sugar.

After her lumpectomy and unilateral mastectomy, her oncologist did not recommend chemo, but wanted to monitor her very closely. Her first re-check was in early March and she was doing well so he wanted to see her in 2 months. In early April her regular vet gave her her annual vet exam and shots.

Three weeks later I discovered a lump in the same place as the first one. I was so devastated. It was worst that finding the first one. Of course we saw her oncologist right away and we scheduled surgery to have it removed. It was a local recurrence and thankfully her lungs and lymph nodes were still clear. At that point her onco felt that chemo was warranted.

I had always said I would never put a pet through chemo, but when you're in the reality it's different. We have gone forward with the chemo is and she is tolerating it very well. No sickness or diarrhea and no change in her energy, appetite or temperment. She has had four and has one more to go on August 5.

We don't know that the chemo will help, but we don't know that it won't. We want to give our baby girl her best possible chance and we believe that this is it.

I have started an organization to spead awareness about mammary cancer in animals. Our website is http://sugarrub.org/. We also have a Facebook page: https://www.************/pages/Sugar-Rub/587437321283860?fref=ts

I am interested in the list of good cancer/tumor fighting supplements that are safe for use on kitties that you mentioned in your earlier post.

Please keep our sweet Sugar in your positive thoughts.

Love, Hugs, & Purrs to all who are fighting this hideous disease.

Jeanette


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